Chapter 70

“Wow, it’s really cold today…” Ning Shu took in a breath of the chilly air.

Winter in the southern regions is indeed extremely cold, especially with the added dampness.

The damp coldness seems to pierce right into your bones.

And these past few days have been relentlessly rainy, which could make old houses even more damp. Some houses might even have water dripping from the floor and walls.

Luckily, Ning Shu’s house is relatively new and made of red bricks, so it’s better off. After all, it’s bright and spacious inside.

“Ning Zhiqing… Lin Guodong, are you there?” Early in the morning, came the urgent voice of Xiaoshan’s mother from outside.

Still nestled in her blankets, Ning Shu hadn’t responded yet when Lin Guodong’s voice came from outside again. “I’m here. What’s the matter?”

Xiaoshan’s mother hadn’t interacted much with Lin Guodong before.

Plus, Lin Guodong’s tall stature and the air of discipline from his military and officer careers over the past decade made him seem quite intimidating.

While this demeanor wasn’t particularly notable in military family compounds, where most servicemen exuded a similar aura, it stood out distinctly in the village.

So Xiaoshan’s mother felt a bit hesitant upon seeing Lin Guodong.

“Guodong is here too?” Xiaoshan’s mother felt a bit embarrassed. “Actually, I came to find you. With all the rain these past few days, our house had a major leak yesterday, and a chunk of the roof even collapsed. So, I was hoping you could help with the repairs.” Originally, she planned to ask Ning Shu, but as a widow, directly asking another woman’s husband felt inappropriate.

However, when Lin Guodong inquired, she felt it was okay to explain.

Because of her widow status, she didn’t socialize much with others, and her acquaintance with Ning Shu was only due to Xiaoshan’s barter for food.

Their interactions were sporadic, but now and then, they’d come and go.

This time, when she asked for help, she felt quite embarrassed. Besides Lin Guodong, she had also asked two other men, after getting the approval from their wives, whom she was on good terms with.

Lin Guodong said, “Wait a moment. Let me check if Ning Shu has any other plans for today. If not, I’ll come over.”

Xiaoshan’s mother expressed her gratitude, saying, “Oh, thank you so much.”

“We’re all villagers here, no need to be so formal,” Lin Guodong replied.

Entering the house, Lin Guodong saw that Ning Shu was already dressed.

He was about to speak when Ning Shu said, “You can go. Xiaoshan often brings Yi Bao and the others to play together. It’s good to lend a hand.”

Xiaoshan’s mother was quite sensible, their business partners, and she kept her lips sealed.

Lin Guodong nodded. “Alright, I’ll go. The kids and I have already had breakfast. If yours is cold when you eat later, you’ll need to reheat it.”

“I’ll take care of it,” Ning Shu assured him.

Lin Guodong left with Xiaoshan’s mother, and soon after, Ning Shu finished dressing and stepped out of the house.

As she stepped outside, she instinctively recoiled as the fine rain was still falling, chilling anyone who dared venture out.

Ning Shu went straight to the kitchen. There was warm white porridge in the pot, along with a boiled egg and a plate of bamboo shoots cooked in oil.

These bamboo shoots were made from the bamboo Lin Guodong had dug up recently.

Whether eaten cold or hot, as a side dish or with the porridge, they were extremely appetizing.

Feeling that the heat from the stove wasn’t sufficient, Ning Shu added more firewood.

“Mom, you’re up,” Yi Bao, bundled up like a little dumpling, came in.

He was wearing several layers, including the cotton vest Ning Shu had just made and an old padded jacket from before.

Although the old jacket wasn’t very warm anymore, when layered with the new cotton vest, it provided good insulation.

“I’m up. Are you feeling cold?” Ning Shu huddled behind the stove for warmth.

“No, I’m not cold. I’m keeping my hands warm,” Yi Bao said, holding a hot water bottle around his neck.

These hot water bottles were purchased by Lin Guodong from the town’s hospital.

Ning Shu had made bottle covers for each child, which they could hang around their necks.

This not only kept the heat in but also prevented it from dissipating too quickly.

Ning Shu had stuffed plenty of cotton into the bottle covers she made.

Besides preventing heat loss, the cotton could also cushion the impact in case a child fell and bumped into the bottle.

In the worst-case scenario, if the bottle shattered during a fall, the cotton would provide some protection against glass shards penetrating the skin.

The hot water in the bottles had been filled by Lin Guodong in the morning.

When Yi Bao mentioned the hot water bottle, Ning Shu remembered hers and realized she hadn’t filled it yet. “Come over and let me warm you up.”

“Okay.” Yi Bao walked over to Ning Shu and handed her his hot water bottle.

Ning Shu pulled Yi Bao into her arms. “You’re much warmer than the bottle.”

The little dumpling in her arms emitted a childlike fragrance, and Ning Shu didn’t want to let go.

Despite Yi Bao’s intelligence and maturity beyond his years, he also harbored the tenderness and sensitivity typical of his age.

Being held by his mother made him shy yet deeply yearn for and enjoy it.

His smile was radiant as he nestled in his mother’s embrace, reluctant to leave.

He had completely forgotten why he had come to the kitchen until Ning Shu’s stomach rumbled.

“Mom, you haven’t eaten yet?” Yi Bao lifted his head from Ning Shu’s embrace. “What would you like to eat? I’ll get it for you.”

“I’ll go eat first.” Ning Shu released Yi Bao and stood up. “Are all of you playing in the study area?”

“Yes, with Er Bao, San Bao, Haicai, and Yang Youfu… Lu Guangzong…” Yi Bao counted on his fingers.

Ning Shu recognized the names of the other children, as they had visited before. Since the establishment of the learning garden, more and more children had come to play.

However, she asked, “Who’s Yang Youfu?”

“It’s Meihua’s little brother,” Yibao told his mother, who hadn’t known yet.

He continued, “Meihua’s mother is a stepmother.”

With that, Ning Shu understood. It was the same girl who had first suggested trading chestnuts for sugar, only ten years old, but strong for her age, almost as big as Ning Shu.

Though raised by a stepmother, the girl was lively, showing that her stepmother treated her well.

“I remember now. How did he come here?” Ning Shu asked, a bit surprised.

Yibao replied, “Meihua brought him along when we were picking firewood and digging bamboo shoots together.”

“All right.” Children’s friendships are just that simple.

“Mom, one of the kids is thirsty. I’ll pour some water,” Yibao finally attended to his own task.

“I’ll do it for you.” Ning Shu thought for a moment.

It’s better to use wooden bowls for the kids to drink from.

Sanbao had two wooden bowls, and there was one spare. After pouring hot water and mixing some cold water, Ning Shu handed it to Yibao.

The pot of porridge on the stove was simmering, nice and warm.

Ning Shu quickly had her breakfast – a mouthful of plain porridge and a mouthful of bamboo shoots cooked in oil. Without realizing it, she had already finished two bowls of porridge.

After breakfast, Ning Shu filled her hot water bottle and put it in her pocket.

Then she went to check on the study area.

Since the study area was previously covered with straw mats, but now the weather was cold and damp, she had asked the carpenter for a wooden bed about 10 centimeters high to lay on the ground.

Then she laid down straw mats and old quilts, covering them with more old blankets.

This way, the children could nestle in their blankets to read and play with building blocks without feeling cold.

At this moment, the children were quite harmonious in their blankets. Ning Shu saw that they were well-settled and greeted them before taking an umbrella to visit Xiaoshan’s house.

Outside, the rain wasn’t heavy, but it was falling steadily, splashing on the ground and creating little water splashes.

Ning Shu was wearing cloth shoes; she definitely wouldn’t be able to make them herself.

Making shoes required strength, and it wasn’t easy to sew them with a needle through the sole.

For her, making shoes was not as feasible as going to the mountains to dig bamboo shoots and pick wild vegetables.

So, she had prepared the cloth herself and asked Aunt Zhang to make the shoes, paying her a few coins for her hard work.

Ning Shu didn’t know many people in the village, apart from the people from the old house and the Lin family who were relatives of the same village.

She was more familiar with Aunt Zhang, who she frequently bought eggs from, and Xiaoshan’s mother.

Compared to the relatives from the same village, she was most familiar with Aunt Zhang, who she often bought eggs from. So she always asked Aunt Zhang to make shoes for herself and the children.

The shoes made by Aunt Zhang were not only comfortable but also well-sewn. Aunt Zhang didn’t go out to work; she specialized in making shoes at home.

She naturally had this skill, and selling the shoes could earn her a decent amount. As an old lady, she couldn’t earn many work points, so making shoes was more profitable.

However, after doing it for a long time, her waist and eyes would become particularly sore.

On the way from Ning Shu’s house to Xiaoshan’s house, you would pass by the Zhuang family’s house.

Speaking of the Zhuang family, Old Fatty Grandpa and Old Fatty Grandma had two sons and two daughters.

The daughters were married off, but the two sons only had one grandson from Li Xiaopang.

So, Zhuang Xiaopang grew up being doted on by his family.

Li Xiaopang considered herself to have given birth to the only grandson in the Zhuang family, so she had a high status in the family and was quite outspoken in the village.

However, it had been several days since they had seen Zhuang Daming, and there had been more and more gossip in the village.

When Ning Shu passed by the Zhuang family’s house, she didn’t pay much attention.

She liked gossip, but she wouldn’t kick someone when they’re down.

Arriving at Xiaoshan’s house, there was none of the expected hustle and bustle, which surprised Ning Shu.

She found Xiaoshan’s house wide open, with no one in the yard or on the roof.

“Xiaoshan… Xiaoshan’s mother…” Ning Shu called out a few times from outside.

Xiaoshan ran out from inside, “Auntie, they’re not here. Uncle went to the mountain to chop wood. Our house has too many collapsed roofs, so we need to put more wood to stabilize them. That’s why the three uncles went to chop wood. My mother and aunt are weaving straw ropes in the village committee’s storage room. The roof needs to be reinforced with straw ropes.”

“How serious is it?” Ning Shu walked in to take a look. Indeed, it was quite serious.

The three of them lived in one room, and a third of the roof had collapsed.

Moreover, the wood on top was all moldy and rotten; it wouldn’t last much longer. But where could they live if the house wasn’t habitable? With this in mind, Ning Shu asked, “Where are you living now?” There was only the kitchen left, as rural kitchens were often connected to the dining room and were spacious enough for living.

“We’re sleeping on the kitchen floor, making do with what we have,” Xiaoshan said with a smile.

His smile was bright, and he seemed much happier than before.

Previously, whenever he came over to deliver bamboo shoots in the evenings, he always looked burdened with worries.

Even when he was happy, his smile was shy. But now, even though their house had collapsed, he was smiling more brightly than ever.

“Then you should keep warm, and if you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask for help,” Ning Shu advised.

She went to the kitchen to take a look, and everything was piled up in the corner, probably moved from the bedroom.

But with a bit of tidying up, it could indeed be used for sleeping.

Xiaoshan hastily said, “Thank you, Auntie.”

Ning Shu didn’t say much either. “I’ll go check on the village committee’s compound.”

She took a few steps, then turned back and took out the hot water bottle from her pocket. “Here, take this. It can warm your hands. If it’s not warm enough, you can change the hot water later.”

Xiaoshan didn’t know what it was, but when he took it, he felt a wave of warmth in his hands. “Thank you, Auntie. I’ll return it to you tonight.” He was indeed feeling cold at the moment, without thick clothes, he was all curled up.

Ning Shu said, “You can use it for now. You can return it to me when your house is fixed.”

Xiaoshan remembered Ning Shu’s kindness. “Okay.”

With an umbrella in hand, Ning Shu arrived at the village committee’s compound.

She saw several men chatting under the eaves, and the doors of the adjacent houses were all open.

During the farming off-season, people liked to gather at the village committee’s compound.

It was a place for gossip and socializing.

In one of the rooms, Ning Shu saw Xiaoshan’s mother.

There were several other women in the room, some sitting and chatting, while others were making straw ropes.

Xiaoshan’s mother was making thick straw ropes.

After putting the wooden beams up, they would cover them with thatch and then secure them with thick straw ropes.

“Miss Ning, what brings you here?” Xiaoshan’s mother noticed Ning Shu and greeted her warmly.

The other women in the room also noticed Ning Shu, but because they weren’t familiar with her and Ning Shu had always had an image of being proud and difficult to approach, they naturally kept their distance and didn’t greet her.

Ning Shu said, “I went to your house and found out you were here, so I came to see you.” Then she approached Xiaoshan’s mother and asked, “Do you need a lot of straw ropes?”

Xiaoshan’s mother replied, “Yes, we need quite a few to secure the thatch.”

Ning Shu said, “Let me give it a try too.” With that, she put her umbrella aside and brought a stool from the corner.

She checked it with her hand and found it clean, so she sat down and started making straw ropes.

Some people watching her thought she was being pretentious.

“Does Miss Ning know how to make straw ropes too?” Yang Meihua’s stepmother asked.

Yang Meihua’s stepmother was one of the people who had a good relationship with Xiaoshan’s mother.

They had both gone to Xiaoshan’s house to help with the house repairs.

Meihua’s father and Lin Guodong had gone to the mountain to chop trees together, so Meihua’s stepmother came here to make straw ropes together.

Ning Shu replied, “Yes, but it’s been a long time since I did it, so I might not be very good. I need to get used to it again.”

Meihua’s stepmother said, “Your hands are tender. Making straw ropes can make your hands hurt. Only people who do rough work regularly and have calloused hands won’t feel pain.”

“Indeed. If we use these straw ropes to tie the thatch, can they be braided as well?” Ning Shu thought for a moment and asked. Making straw ropes was tough for her hands, but braiding them might be manageable.

“As long as it’s a straw rope, it’ll do,” Xiaoshan’s mother said, “For our own use, there’s no need to be particular.”

Ning Shu replied, “Let me try braiding it first.”

Ning Shu started braiding the straw. Surprisingly, although she could make straw ropes very well, she was quite fast at braiding straw ropes.

Moreover, each rope she braided was very sturdy.

“You’re really good at this,” Meihua’s stepmother commented as she watched Ning Shu braid the straw ropes. “You must be good at braiding hair too.”

“Haha… I am indeed good at braiding hair,” Ning Shu said confidently. She wasn’t being modest.

Without a “mom” around, she had tied her own hair since she was little.

Girls love to look pretty, so she had studied various hairstyles, such as braids, three-strand braids, and four-strand braids.

When Sanbao’s hair grew longer, she could braid a clever whip for Sanbao.

Although it was now the end of feudalism, nobody would object to braiding a clever whip for a child.

Xiaoshan’s mother, Meihua’s stepmother, and Ning Shu chatted while the other women in the room also conversed.